Happy Halloween!

Evil Dead II was not the sequel to The Evil Dead that Sam Raimi intended. With a bigger budget, and more experience, he essentially remade the first film with a comedic twist. Released in 1987, Evil Dead II became the perfect bridge between horror and comedy.

Ash Williams transforms from every man survivor to wisecracking action hero. Campbell's physical comedy is next-level; the guy gets beaten up by his own possessed hand. His performance became so iconic, it launched an entire franchise and Ash as a cult hero. Practical effects, makeup, and prosthetics created some truly memorable (and gross) moments.

Evil Dead II helped define the horror-comedy genre and influenced countless filmmakers. It became a cult classic that's still celebrated decades later, leading to Army of Darkness and eventually the Ash vs Evil Dead TV series. Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi became legends in genre filmmaking.

Evil Dead II proved you could be terrifying and hilarious at the same time. It's a masterclass in creative filmmaking on a budget, and proof that sometimes the best sequels are the ones that aren't afraid to reinvent themselves.

Groovy.

I would love to hear your thoughts on Evil Dead II !

Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.

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ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Heather, Danny, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle,Aaron and Conner

Before 20-year-old Sam Raimi could make The Evil Dead, he had to convince investors that three friends from Michigan could pull off a horror masterpiece. Enter "Within the Woods," a short film that became the ultimate pitch; screened across Detroit until enough people bought in. The result? An initial $85,000 and a one-way ticket to a freezing, abandoned cabin in Tennessee with no heat, no plumbing, and 12 weeks of pure filmmaking chaos.

Bruce Campbell's on-screen suffering was real—those bruises, cuts, and exhausted reactions weren't acting. The crew ended up living in the dilapidated cabin, inventing techniques and visual effects out of creativity and desperation. It was the epitome of low budget, inexperienced but passionate filmmaking.

The Evil Dead could have easily disappeared into low budget horror movie obscurity, though. They struggled to find domestic distribution until Stephen King saw it at Cannes and called it "the most ferociously original film of the year." That single endorsement transformed everything.

When it was released in the UK, it became the best selling VHS of the year in 1983. It was subsequently banned as the "number one video nasty" in the UK, and called too extreme for mainstream distribution. Thanks, Mary Whitehouse.

The Evil Dead rewrote the rules. It proved indie horror could be artful, that gore could be kinetic poetry, and that a cabin in the woods could become the most terrifying place on Earth. It showed a generation of filmmakers that you don't need studio money to make something revolutionary; you just need vision, determination, and friends willing to suffer for the cause.

I would love to hear your thoughts on The Evil Dead (1981) !

Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.

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ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Heather, Danny, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle, Aaron and Conner.

Hocus Pocus represents something special in cinema: proof that a film's legacy isn't written on opening weekend. It's a testament to how the right movie can find its audience, even if it takes decades to get there, to become one of the most beloved family Halloween classics of all time.

Virgins! Get ready to light the black flame candle, and summon the iconic Sanderson Sisters, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, who brought the sistahhhs to life with their unforgettable chemistry. It would lead to Hocus Pocus' eventual resurgence, with the Sanderson sisters as queer icons, and huge influences on the drag community.

What started as a simple bedtime story evolved after years stuck in development hell. It would be The Divine Miss M herself who essentially got the movie greenlit, and Midler fully committed to the bit.

But after a disappointing July 1993 release, VHS and DVD releases started to make it profitable and Hocus Pocus become a Halloween staple, as well as a cult classic.

You could say it ran amok, Amok amok amok!

I would love to hear your thoughts on Hocus Pocus !

Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
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SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

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ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Heather, Danny, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle, Aaron and Conner.

Before Scream made meta-horror mainstream, Wes Craven created something truly unique: a horror film where the actors played themselves, filmed in the real New Line Cinema offices, exploring what happens when fictional evil breaks into reality.

Freddy Krueger had officially died in Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare in 1991, and from 1984 his character had evolved from terrifying villain to quipping and comedic, and New Line Cinema had already started merchandising the character. Realizing that maybe they had killed Freddy too soon, New Line wanted a way to resurrect him without actually resurrecting him. There was always something deeply unnerving about putting Krueger on a pedestal, and no-one thought it more than his original creator, Wes Craven…

Wes Craven's New Nightmare cleverly blurs the line between fiction and reality, creating a unique meta-narrative, starring original final girl Heather Langenkamp as herself, focusing on her journey from horror star to mother and how that reflects the personal impact of the franchise on her fictional life. Craven specifically wanted to focus on how horror movies affect children, showcasing the blurred boundaries between protection and temptation.

Despite its initial box office struggles, New Nightmare has gained a cult following, mostly in the wake of Wes Craven's next project, Scream, which took what New Nightmare had attempted and refined it. Wes Craven said that Scream was a movie for people who watch horror movies, and New Nightmare was a movie for people who make horror movies. Scream is credited for refreshing the slasher, but we all know New Nightmare is Wes Craven’s real life meta masterpiece.

I would love to hear your thoughts on Wes Craven's New Nightmare !

Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
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SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

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ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Heather, Danny, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle, Aaron and Conner.

How did a British ghost story set in a Liverpool council estate became America's most haunting urban legend?

In 1992, director Bernard Rose transformed Clive Barker's British ghost story, The Forbidden, into one of horror's most intelligent and thought-provoking slashers. But the inspiration ran deeper than fiction. The tragic 1987 murder of Ruthie Mae McCoy, who called 911 claiming someone was breaking into her Chicago apartment through her bathroom mirror, is a chilling real life inspiration to one of cinema's most enduring, and gothically romantic horror icons.

Candyman is not just a horror movie; it’s a reflection of societal fears, racial injustice, and the haunting legacy of violence against black people in America, specifically black men. The film, set in the Cabrini Green housing project, serves as a backdrop for a story that’s both supernatural and tragically real. Tony Todd's portrayal of Candyman is chilling yet tragic, highlighting the character's backstory as a victim of racial injustice rather than just a typical horror villain.

Helen Lyle, a white woman who becomes entangled in the Candyman myth, exposes the privilege and naivety that often accompany the quest for truth. The contrast between her character and the realities faced by the residents of Cabrini Green is not just a plot device; it’s a commentary on who gets to tell stories and which voices are heard.

I dare you to say his name five times... Candyman, Candyman, Candyman, Candyman....

I would love to hear your thoughts on Candyman (1992) !

Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
• Instagram @verbaldiorama
• Facebook @verbaldiorama
• Letterboxd @verbaldiorama
• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
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SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

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ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Heather, Danny, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle, Aaron and Conner

What happens when you mix Keanu Reeves, a scenery-chewing Al Pacino, and a Faustian bargain?

Andrew Neiderman's novel was originally going to be adapted in the early 90s, directed by Joel Schumacher and starring Brad Pitt, but casting Satan proved difficult and so the project was halted.

Speak of the devil, the O.J. Simpson trial gave new life to this story, and everyone became interested in courtroom drama and corrupt lawyers. The movie was resurrected, with Keanu Reeves choosing it over Speed 2, and the production desperate to entice Al Pacino to play the devil. Maybe they made a deal with the devil?

In a bizarre twist worthy of the film itself, a copyright violation lawsuit forced the studio to digitally amend key scenes, proving that even fictional devils face real-world consequences.

Inspired by John Milton's Paradise Lost, Dante's Inferno, and the Faust legend woven into late 90s Manhattan, The Devil's Advocate remains a fascinating time capsule of '90s excess while asking timeless questions about the price of success and the susceptibility of human ambition and greed.

Have a listen to The Midnight Myth's excellent episode on The Devil's Advocate here

I would love to hear your thoughts on The Devil's Advocate (1997) !

Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
• Instagram @verbaldiorama
• Facebook @verbaldiorama
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• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
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SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

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ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Heather, Danny, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle, Aaron and Conner

Paying tribute to the classic no-sex sex comedies from the late '50s and early '60s, Down With Love is a wonderful, bright, kitschy romcom classic that seems to be well regarded, if not completely well remembered.

Renee Zellweger (fresh from Chicago) and Ewan McGregor (fresh from Moulin Rouge) tackle roles similar to those made famous by girl-next-door-turned-sex-symbol Doris Day and serious-actor-turned-romantic-lead Rock Hudson, in a genuinely wonderful pastiche to their movies Pillow Talk (1959), Lover Come Back (1961) and Send Me No Flowers (1964). (I watched Pillow Talk as part of my prep for this episode, and I have to say it's a truly delightful movie and Doris Day is incredible in it! Please watch it if you can!)

Down With Love is so impressive in its desire to not only be set in the sixties, but also to be filmed like it were filmed in the Sixties. It's meant to look like it was filmed in Technicolor. The thought that went into it is insane, from authentic props and vintage fabrics for costuming, to wanting the sets to actually look just like sets. Down With Love is not a film steeped in realistic depictions of 1962 New York. It's meant to look wonky. It relishes, and adores, the world its set in. The entire cast look like they're having the best time ever.

I just wish more people knew of it...

This episode was originally released on 16th July 2020

Mentioned in this episode:

From the Archive

There's no new episode this week, so I thought you might be interested in revisiting this slightly older, but no less brilliant episode. Just bear in mind, this episode is several years old, it may not sound quite as polished as newer episodes, and new information may have come to light in recent years with regards to the making of this movie (please see above for the original date of release)

Verbal Diorama meets Verbal Kint in a neo-noir crime thriller, based somewhat on a true story, from the mind of Oscar-winning screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie.

An idea based on a line from Casablanca, The Usual Suspects takes five felons in a line-up and creates the layers of deceit and twists, before the final realisation that Keyser Söze may not be who we thought it was - or was he?

Who is Keyser Söze?

With a heavyweight cast of big names and character actors, everyone in this movie is impeccable to the very end. The film's iconic twist ending cleverly invites viewers to question everything they thought they knew about the characters.

The Usual Suspects' atypical non-linear storytelling made it stand out against other neo-noir crime dramas of the 90s, along with its extremely unreliable narrator. What is true? What isn't? The line-up scene and Benicio del Toro's unexpected flatulence during filming is very true, and led to a scene that became one of the film's most memorable and humorous moments.

But really the legacy of the film and how it became a cult classic, aided by a brilliant marketing campaign, is the lingering mystery and pop culture creation of Keyser Söze.

I would love to hear your thoughts on The Usual Suspects !

Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
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SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

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ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Heather, Danny, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle, Aaron and Conner.

30 years on, the tide is turning for Showgirls.

Showgirls is remembered for its outlandish dialogue, the over-the-top performances, culminating in controversy, cult status, and unapologetic campiness. It's widely regarded as a mess, a critical and commercial flop, and poor Elizabeth Berkley took the brunt of the blame.

Showgirls is polarizing, for many it's a guilty pleasure drenched in excess, but for others, it’s a train wreck that’s hard to look away from. This movie is no financial flop though, in fact it's one of MGM's most lucrative of all time. Sex sells.

Nomi Malone hitchhikes her way to Las Vegas, dreaming of stardom and glory in the world of top tier showgirls. Writer Joe Eszterhas dreamed of a script that contained the real life stories of the women who worked in Vegas clubs, but director Paul Verhoeven wanted a not-so-subtle commentary on the darker side of fame and ambition in show business.

It’s looking at the American dream in a dark, twisted mirror, showing the misogynistic rot of show business, the dark reality of a patriarchal society that on the surface claims to love, idolise and promote women, it actually exploits and degrades women in the name of entertainment. Just like what happened to Elizabeth Berkley.

I would love to hear your thoughts on Showgirls !

Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
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SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

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ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Heather, Danny, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle, Aaron and brand-new patron Conner!

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a person in possession of a birthday must be in want of a celebration. However little known the feelings or views of such a person may be on their first entering into another year of life, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of their surrounding acquaintance, that they are considered as the rightful object of some one or other of their neighbours' party-planning endeavours.

"My dear friends," began our heroine (for heroine she must be called, being the celebrated birthday personage of our tale), "I find myself in the most peculiar situation of having reached another year of existence, and I am given to understand that such an occasion demands commemoration."

It is hoped that all persons of good breeding and cheerful disposition will find it agreeable to listen, for what is a birthday celebration without the society of one's most valued listeners?

Joining this celebration of the utmost importance are the honoured guests of Dr Alice and Dr Kimberly of Fetch the Smelling Salts. Ladies of noble achievement in high society, whose warm and witty conversation has made this episode most agreeable indeed. Alice's slightly racier podcast, Austen After Dark, is also a most welcome pursuit for those who enjoy lively discourse on more amorous activities.

"For what," our heroine might well exclaim, "is the pleasure of a birthday without the warmth of friendship to illuminate it?"

Therefore, let all who receive these words consider themselves most cordially and affectionately invited to join in what promises to be an episode of unparalleled enjoyment.